BROOKINGS The future of the Fifth Street Gym was one of the big topics at the Nov. 4 meeting of the Park & Recreation Advisory Board, with members recommending that the City Council give the go-ahead to a feasibility study to establish maintenance and operational costs.
If the City Council OKs the study, its estimated to cost $35,000 to $45,000 and would be carried out by the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Director Kristin Zimmerman said in her presentation that the dollars to cover the cost would have to be found within her departments budget.
She also reminded advisory board members of the current estimate of deferred maintenance costs, estimated at a little more than $2.6 million. Beyond that, there would also be a $100,000 to $150,000 yearly cost to operate the facility. Zimmerman also shared another tidbit of information if the city were to acquire Fifth Street Gym from the Brookings School District, immediate maintenance work would be necessary to the tune of $1,650,000. Specifically:
- A new air handler at a cost of $1 million
- Work on the sprinkler and fire alarm system at a cost of $350,000
- Work on the roof totaling $300,000
For what its worth, those dollar amounts are part of the overall deferred maintenance costs. Still, the whole thing could be moot. Why? Well, the school district plans to sell the gym, and theres no guarantee the city would provide the district the best offer for the facility, if even the city was willing to go down that road in the first place.
Water woes
Zimmerman provided an update on the ongoing water sourcing issue at Edgebrook Golf Course, noting that its possible a test site with viable well water just south of the course across 20th Street South might be able to provide the needed water.
Its one of four sites tested in that vicinity two other sites didnt pan out, and the remaining site had some water, but it was of questionable quality, Zimmerman pointed out.
Negotiations are ongoing with the landowner, she said, and its currently estimated that the potential well produces between 400 and 450 gallons per minute. That may seem like a lot, but Zimmerman also said Edgebrooks water needs would, in that scenario, require a single pump to run 16 hours a day. Thats why, if everything pans out with the site, shes thinking that two pumps would be employed, each running eight hours a day.
In the best-case scenario, Zimmerman said construction could begin this coming spring, should the overall project be deemed feasible.
Another option being studied is building a water line from the existing Brookings Municipal Utilities water treatment plant to the golf course. Its a pricey option, too, with an estimated cost of $1 million, per Banner & Associates.
The pursuit of more reliable water at Edgebrook has been an issue for more than a year now, with other options in the past including:
- Drawing water from the L.G. Everist gravel pits just east of Interstate 29
- Capturing runoff from the north and west sides of the golf course
- Purchasing treated water directly from BMU
BMU also has an underutilized well at the Southbrook Softball Complex. It currently serves the complex, but it might also be able to send water to the golf course as well, per earlier reporting in the Brookings Register. Zimmerman said, for all intents and purposes, this remains a backup of a backup option.
Lastly, six well sites were explored within Edgebrooks property, but not a one of them turned up any water, she said.
Road renaming
Advisory board members also heard from Thomas Reynolds, who made an application on Oct. 4 to rename the road within Pioneer Park in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
After much and candid discussion including precedence for other park roads and, in general, naming rights and the potential for additional income streams from such members recommended forwarding the application to the City Council for a hearing and potential action.
Zimmerman said her department was neutral on the renaming issue, but also noted that it would come with an estimated cost of $600 for signs and installation. On top of that, the potential change could mean the in-park route would then be considered to be a through street once signage is placed.
Lastly, in other business, board members also supporting a recommendation that the City Council approve an application from Cloe Barber to be the high school student representative on the Park & Rec Board.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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